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1. CBSE Class 10 Science Notes Chapter 10 Light Reflection and Refraction
REFLECTION
Reflection of Light: The phenomenon of bouncing back of light into the same medium by the
smooth surface is called reflection.
Incident light: Light which falls on the surface is called incident light.
Reflected light: Light which goes back after reflection is called reflected light.
The angle of incidence: The angle between the incident ray and the normal.
An angle of reflection: The angle between the reflected ray and the normal.
Mirror: The surface which can reflect the light is a mirror.
Plane Mirror: If the reflecting surface is a plane then the mirror is plane.
Spherical Mirror: If the reflecting surface is part of the hollow sphere then the mirror is a
spherical mirror.
The spherical mirror is of two types:
Convex mirror: In this mirror reflecting surface is convex. It diverges the light so it is also
called a diverging mirror.
Concave mirror: In this mirror reflecting surface is concave. It converges the light so it is also
called converging mirror.
Parameters of Mirror:
Center of Curvature: The centre of hollow sphere of which mirror is a part.
The radius of curvature: The radius of hollow sphere of which mirror is a part.
Pole: The centre of mirror (middle point) is pole.
Principal axis: The line joining the pole and center of curvature is called principal axis.
Aperture: Size of mirror is called aperture of mirror.
Principal Focus: The point on the principal axis, where all the incident rays parallel to
principal axis converge or diverge after reflection through mirror.
Focal Length: The distance between pole and focus point is focal length.
Special Rays for Formation of Image:
A ray of light which is parallel to the principal axis of a spherical mirror, after reflection
converges or diverges from focus.
A ray of light passing through or appearing from the center of curvature of spherical mirror is
reflected back along the same path.
A ray of light passing through or appearing from the focus of spherical mirror becomes
parallel to the principal axis.

2. A ray of light which is incident at the pole of a spherical mirror is reflected back making same
angle with principal axis.
Use of Concave Mirror: It is used as a makeup mirror, the reflector in torches, in headlights
of cars and searchlights, doctor’s head-mirrors, solar furnace, etc.
Sign Conventions of Spherical Mirror
All the distances are measured from the pole of the mirror as the origin.
Distances measured in the direction of incident rays are taken as positive.
Distances measured opposite to the direction of incident rays are taken as negative.
Distances measured upward and perpendicular to the principal axis are taken as positive.
Distances measured downward and perpendicular to the principal axis are taken as
negative.
1f=1v+1u …where f, v and u are focal length, image distance, object distance
Linear Magnification: This is the ratio of the height of the image to the height of the object.
m=h‘h …where m = magnification, h = height of image, h’ = height of object
Use of Convex Mirror: Convex mirror used as rear view mirror in vehicles, as shop security
mirrors, etc.
REFRACTION
Refraction of Light: The bending of light at the interface of two different mediums is called
Refraction of light.
If the velocity of light in medium is more, then medium is called optical rarer.
Example, air or vacuum is more optical rarer.
If the velocity of light in medium is less, then medium is called optical denser.
Example, glass is more denser than air.
Refractive Index: It represents the amount or extent of bending of light when it passes from
one medium to another.
There are two types of refractive index
Relative refractive index and
Absolute refractive index.
Refractive index of medium with respect to other medium is called Relative Refractive Index.
Refractive index of medium 1 with respect to medium 2 =
Speedoflightinmedium2(V2)Speedoflightinmedium1(V1)
Refractive index of medium with respect to air or vacuum is called Absolute Refractive Index.
Absolute refractive index of medium (m) = Speedoflightinair(c)Speedoflightinmedium(Vm)
Incident ray: It is incoming ray on the refracting surface.
Refracted ray: It is an outgoing ray from the refracting surface.
An angle of incidence (i): It is the angle between incident rays and perpendicular line
(normal) at the point of incidence.

3. An angle of refraction (r): It is the angle between refracted rays and perpendicular line
(normal) at the point of incidence.
Law of Refraction: According to this law
“The incident ray, refracted ray and normal at the point of incidence all lie in the same plane.”
“The ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction is
constant.”
sinisinr = constant (µ)
Lens: The transparent refracting medium bounded by two surfaces in which at least one
surface is curved is called lens.
Lenses are mainly two type
Convex lens and
Concave lens.
Center of Curvature: The centres of two spheres, of which lens is part is called the centre of
curvature.
Radii of Curvature: The radii of spheres, of which lens is part is called radius of curvature.
Principal Axis: The line joining the centres of curvature of two surfaces of lens is called
principal axis.
Optical Center: It is a special point on the principal axis. Light incident on the optical centre
passes through the lens without deviation.
Principal Focus: The point on the principal axis at which all incident rays parallel to the
principal axis converge or appear to diverge after refraction through the lens.
Special Rays for Image Formation by Lens:
An incident ray, parallel to the principal axis, after refraction passes through (or appears to
come from), second focus of the lens.
An incident ray, passing through the optical center of the lens, goes undeviated from the
lens.
An incident ray, passing through the (first) principal focus of the lens, or directed toward it,
becomes parallel to the principal axis after refraction through lens.
Use of Lens: In photographic cameras, magnifying glass, microscope, telescope, the human
eye.
1. Light travels in a straight line.
2. Light gets reflected when it falls on polished surfaces; like mirrors.
3. Light suffers refraction when it travels from one medium to another.

4. 4. There is a change in the wavelengths!light when it moves from one medium into another.
5. The bouncing back of light when it strikes a smooth or polished surface is called reflection
of light. Reflection is of two types; Specular or regular and Diffuse or irregular reflection.
6. The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection. Mathematically, we have ∠i =
∠r.
7. The image is as far behind the mirror as the object is in front.
8. The image is unmagnified, virtual and erect.
9. The image has right-left reversal.
10. Focal length of a plane mirror is infinity.
11. Power of a plane mirror is zero.
12. If a plane mirror is turned by an angle, the reflected ray turns by 2θ.
13. The least size of a plane mirror to view an object is equal to half the size of the object.
14. Pole (Vertex): The central point of a mirror is called its pole.
15. Centre of curvature : The centre of the sphere of which the mirror is a part is called the
centre of curvature. It is denoted by C.
16. Radius of curvature : The radius of the sphere of which the mirror is a part is called the
radius of curvature. It is denoted by R.
17. Principal axis : The straight line passing through the pole and the centre of curvature of
the mirror is called the principal axis.
18. Principal focus : It is a point on the principal axis at which the rays parallel to the principal
axis meet after reflection or seem to come from. For a concave mirror, the focus lies in front
of the mirror and for a convex mirror, it lies behind the mirror. In short, a concave mirror has
a real focus while aconvex mirror has a virtual focus.
19. Focal plane : A plane, drawn perpendicular to the principal axis and passing through the
principal focus.
20. Focal length : The distance between the pole and the focus is called the focal length. It is
represented by f. The focal length is half the radius of curvature.
21. Aperture: The size of the mirror is called its aperture. It is also defined as the effective
diameter of the light reflecting area of the mirror.

5. 22. Real image : When the rays of light, after reflection from a mirror, actually meet at a
point, then the image formed by these rays is said to be real. Real images can be obtained
on a screen.
23. Virtual image: When the rays of light, after reflection from a mirror, appear to meet at a
point, then the image formed by these rays is said to be virtual. Virtual images can’t be
obtained on a screen.
24. The following rays are used while drawing ray diagrams to find the position of an image :
A ray of light parallel to the principal axis after reflection passes through the focus. (1)
A ray of light passing through the focus after reflection becomes parallel to the principal axis.
(2)
A ray of light incident on the centre of curvature retraces its path after reflection form the
mirror.
Light Reflection and Refraction Class 10 Notes Science Chapter 10 img-1
25. For mirrors, the following results hold :
u is – ve, if the object is in front of the mirror.
(Real object)
u is + ve, if the object is behind the mirror.
(Virtual object)
v is – ve, if the image is in front of the mirror.
(Real image)
vis +ve, if the image is behind the mirror.
(Virtual image)
Focal length of a concave mirror is taken as – ve. Focal length of a convex mirror is taken as
+ve.
26. When the image formed by a spherical mirror is real, it is also inverted and is on the
same side of the mirror as the object. Since both v and u are negative, the magnification is
negative.
27. When the image formed by a spherical mirror is virtual, it is also erect and is on the other
side of the mirror as the object. In this case, u is – ve and v is + ve , therefore, m is positive.
28. The expression for the mirror formula is 1/u+1/v = 1/f
29. Linear magnification is given by the expression
30. If m is positive, the image is erect w.r.t the object and if m is negative, the image is
inverted w.r.t. the object.
31.The position of the image for various positions of the object for a concave mirror is as
shown in the table below. The table also shows the use of the mirror for different positions of
the object.

6. The position of the image for various positions of the object for a convex mirror is as shown
in the table below. The table also shows the use of the mirror for different positions of the
object.
32. The bending of light when it travels from one medium into another is called refraction of
light
34. As light travels from ,one medium to another, the frequency of light does not change.
35. Light refracts because it has different speeds in different media.
36. The refraction of light obeys the following two laws :
The incident ray, the refracted ray and the normal at the point of incidence all lie in the same
plane.
The ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction is a
constant.This
constant is called the index of refraction or refractive index.
37. If wng is the refractive index of glass w.r.t. water, ang be the refractive index of glass
w.r.t. air and anw be the refractive index of water w.r.t. air ,then
38. The most familiar and widely used optical device is the lens. A lens is an optical system
with two refracting surfaces. The simplest lens has two spherical surfaces close enough
together that we can neglect the distance between them. Such a lens is called a thin lens.
The two common types of lenses are Converging lens or Convex lens, Diverging lens or
Concave lens.
39. It should be noted that, if the above lenses are surrounded by .a material with a
refractive index greater than that of the lens, the convex lens gets converted into a concave
lens and vice-versa.
40. Any lens that is thicker at its centre than at its edges is a converging lens with positive f,
and any lens that is thicker at its edges than at the centre is a diverging lens with negative f.
41. Optical centre : The central point C in the lens is called the optical centre. If a ray is
incident towards the optical centre, it passes undeviated .through the lens.
42.Principal axis: Since the lens contains two spherical surfaces, therefore, it has two
centres of curvatures.
The line joining these centres and passing through the optical centre is called principal axis.
43. Aperture: The effective width of a lens through which refraction takes place is called the
aperture.
44. Focus and Focal Length : If a beam of light moving parallel to the principal axis of a
convex lens is incident on it, the rays converge or meet at a point on the principal axis. This
point F is called the focus. The distance CF is called the focal length. If a beam of light
moving parallel to the principal axis is incident on a concave lens, the beam of light diverges.
If these diverged rays are produced backward, they meet at a point F on the principal . axis.

7. The transmitted rays appear to come from this point. This point F is called the focus and
distance CF is called the focal length.
All rays parallel to the principal axis after refraction pass through the principal focus or seem
to come from it.
A ray of light passing through the focus after refraction becomes parallel to the principal axis.
A ray of light passing through the optical centre of the lens after refraction passes
undeviated.
46. A convex and a concave lens can be supposed to be made-up of prisms.
47. Image formation by a concave lens.
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48. Image formation by a convex lens.
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49. New Cartesian sign conventions :
All distances, object distance (u), image distance (v) and focal length f are measured from
the optical centre.
The distances measured in the direction of incident ray are taken as positive and distances
measured against the direction of incident ray are taken as negative.
All distances (heights) of objects and images above principal axis are taken as positive and
those below the principal axis are taken as negative.
50. For the two lenses, the sign conventions take the form
u is- ve, if the object is in front of the lens. (Real object)
u is +ve, if the object is virtual.
v is – ve, if the image is on the same side as that of the object. (Virtual image )
v is +ve, if the image is real.
Focal length of a concave lens is taken as – ve.
Focal length of a convex lens is taken as +ve.
51. Lens formula for convex lens 1/v-1/u = 1/f
52. The linear magnification produced by a lens is defined as the ratio of the size of the
image (h’) to the size of the object (h). It is represented by m i.e.,
Light Reflection and Refraction Class 10 Notes Science Chapter 10 img-13
53. If the magnification of a lens is negative, then the image formed is inverted and real.
54. If the magnification of a lens is positive, then the image formed is erect and virtual.
55. Power is defined as the reciprocal of the focal length. Power is measured in dioptre.